Conveyer system



Nov. 10, 1936. c. 5. JENNINGS CONVEYER SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1954 In perz to Cizeszer 5. Jazz z Nov. 10, 1936. c. s. JENNINGS CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed March 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In 1/622 for; C'izester 15. I]?

c. 5. JENNINGS CONVEYER SYSTEM Nov. 10, 1936.

Filed March 5, 1954 4 sheets-Shea s flveizlazf C/zester 151x16 Nov. 10, 1936. c. s. JENNINGS CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed March 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jrzvezz to C'izesterSf rferzrez' 15*, Q WQQAMM 41%? Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES ATEN OFFICE CONVEYER SYSTEM Application March 5, 1934, Serial No. 714,064

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a conveyer system such as for example a system including vertically traveling conveyers of the type used in the transportation of books, papers and similar articles. The primary object of this invention to provide a conveyer having a plurality of cars, each car being assigned to a definite station at which the load thereon is delivered, the cars traveling undisturbed past all other stations.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a conveyer of this type trip means on each car normally inoperative and automatically rendered operative by the loading of the car, in combination with means at each station by which the loads on certain cars are removed, the station means which are normally inoperative being rendered operative only by the trip means of cars carrying loads destined to that station, 20 and being unaffected by cars assigned to other stations or by the empty cars assigned to that station.

Other objects of the invention reside in various details of structure and operation as will appear from a consideration of the following description of one embodiment of the invention wherein the conveyer travels vertical in a well taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show such embodiment and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in elevation a typical conveyer installation embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale, showing a loading station and an unloading station and a car at the unloading station;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a conveyer car;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of such car, a part being broken away;

Figs. 5 and 6 show, in front and side elevation respectively, a portion of the car;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a movable trip element mounted upon the car;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the operating mechanism at a typical unloading station; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof; the mechanism being shown in full lines in the inoperative position and in dotted lines in the operative position in both Figs. 8 and 9.

The conveyer installation selected for the purpose of illustration and not of limitation includes a typical conveyer comprising a chain It which travels about a head sprocket H, and a foot sprocket i2 being driven by a motor !3, and i5 a plurality of cars M. The conveyer travels in a well l5 having at each fi'oor a loading station it and an unloading station I! the former adjacent the upward path of travel of the cars and the latter adjacent the downward path. Each car is secured to the chain by a pin l8 so that the cars pass freely around the sprockets H and i2 without any material disturbance of the loads thereon. Projecting into the conveyer well from the rear wall are a plurality of brackets it which support a pair of spaced apart guide strips Zil. Each bracket I9 is provided with a recess 2i in which the chain it] travels with the pins 43 and over the mouth of which the strips 26 project. Fixed to the rear wall of each car is a shoe 22 the edges of which project past and behind the strips 2:; into the recesses 2!. The strips 26 against which the rear walls of the cars rest during their upward and downward travel thus steady the cars, with the assistance of the shoes 22. It will be understood that the inner strips 28 terminate a sufficient distance below the head sprocket ll so that the cars leaving one pair of strips are free to pass across the well and enter into contact with the other pair. Paralleling the strips 29 at each unloading station are supplementary strips 23 curved at the upper and lower ends (see Fig. 9) and fixed to the strips by straps 24. Angle plates carried by the straps 24 further reinforce the strips 23 between the straps.

Each car l4 comprises a rear wall 30 to which the pin l8 and shoe 22 are secured and inwardly flanged side walls iii. A plurality of fingers 32 project outwardly from the lower edge of the wall 30 between the side walls 3|. The fingers 32 are rigidly fixed to the wall 30 and terminate in upturned tips 33. Supported in ears 34 projecting from the lower edge of the wall 30 is a stud shaft 35. Fixed to the shaft 35 between two of the cars 34 is a unit 36 which supports fingers 31 the tips 38 of which are turned downwardly as shown in Fig. 4. A coiled spring 39 surrounding the shaft 35 yieldably holds the fingers 31 raised above the fingers 32 in the position limited by the contact of the unit 36 with the Wall 30 as shown in full lines in Fig. 6. The weight of a load in the car depresses the fingers 31, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, so that they are in the plane of the fixed fingers 32. This position is determined by the engagement with the lower edge of the wall 30 of tongues 40, projecting rearwardly from the unit 36. Suitable bosses are formed in the wall 30 in alignment with the fingers 32 and 31 as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

Slidable upon a pair of parallel rods 4| fixed to the outer face of one side wall 3| as by means of brackets 42 is a block 43 from which projects a tongue 44 shown (Fig. '7) as comprising a central upright member or fin 45 from the front and bottom of which project flanges 46. Fixed to one side of the fin 45 is a wear plate 41. Secured to the end of the shaft 35 which projects beyond the side wall 3i is an arm 48 connected by a link 49 to the block 43, the end of the link 49 passing between ears 50 which project downwardly from the block 43 and being connected therewith by a bolt or pin 5%. Referring particularly to Fig. 4 the block 43 normally assumes the position shown in full lines but when the car receives a load it is advanced to the position shown in dotted lines. The block is held in the advanced position by means of a latch 52 which drops behind the fin 45 into contact with the wear plate 41. The latch is pivotally carried by a block 53 on the rods 4|. The link 49 includes a turnbuckle 54 by which its length may be fixed in order to insure the proper travel of the block 43. Fixed to and projecting laterally from the head of the latch 52 is a trip plate 55.

At each unloading station are provided a plurality of load removing arms 68 fixed upon a shaft 6| and so positioned that they will pass freely between the fingers 32 and 31 of the cars. The shaft 6| extends across the discharge opening of the station and is mounted at its ends in suitable bearings 62. Fixed on the shaft 5i adjacent one end is an arm 63 to which is secured one end of a spring 54 fixed at its other end to a rod 65 adjustably positioned in a bracket 66 mounted upon an upright of the well frame. Extending across the well between the unloading station and the loading station are two spaced parallel rock shafts 6i and t8 suitably supported in bearings carried by the well frame. Carried by each of the shafts El and 68 is a sleeve 69 from which an arm 10 projects. Each sleeve is slidable along its shaft and is held against turning thereabout by a set screw H which enters a groove 12. The set screw when tightened secures the sleeve in the desired position. The arms 16 are of the same length and coact to support a bar 13 the lower end of which is ofiset. The bar, hereinafter referred to as a station cam, is located in the. well adjacent the path of travel of the cars approaching the unloading station. A second sleeve 14, keyed to the shaft 61, carries an ear 75 connected by a link 16 to the arm 63 on the shaft 6|. The spring 64 thus acts to hold the station cam '13 and its associated elements yieldably in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8. A trip arm 11 carried by the shaft 68 functions in the manner set forth hereinbelow. Fixed in the well frame is a rod 18, covered with rubber, felt or the like, which extends across the opening behind and slightly above the shaft 6!, and which limits the downward movement of the arms 60. Mounted upon brackets '19 carried by the Well frame is a rod 80 similar to the rod 18 and acting to limit the upward movement of the arms. In case it is desired for any reason to stop the travel of the conveyer means are provided at all or certain floors to do so. The form here shown (see Fig. 2) comprises a circuit breaker 8| having an arm 82 and a cable 83 secured to the arm and looped across the opening at the loading station.

The conveyer cars, as pointed out above, are assigned to definite stations and the loads are placed in the car or cars assigned to that station to which the loads are to be delivered. Each car is suitably marked in a conspicuous manner as by the use of a number (see Fig. 3) or other insignia. As suggested in Figs. 4 and 9 the illustrated system comprises six unloading stations to which cars may selectively deliver their loads. While Fig. 4 shows in dotted lines the outlines of six station earns 73 and Fig. 9 similarly shows five cams as well as one in full lines it will be understood that each station has only one cam and that the position thereof is distinct from that taken by the cam at any other station.

The primary feature of this invention is that each car, by means of trip carried thereby, sets in operation the discharging mechanism at the particular station to which it is assigned and passes through the other stations without affecting the mechanism thereat. It willbeunderstoodthatthe location of the trips on the cars may be changed in accordance with the stations to which they are assigned or that the station cams actuated by such trips may be similarly shifted. By varying the length of the links 49 of the cars the travel of the blocks 43 will be regulated so that, when each car is loaded, the trip 44 thereof will be set to engage the cam 13 of the station to which it is assigned. The positions of the blocks will, of course, be shifted accordingly.

For the purpose of setting forth the operation of this system the travel of the illustrated car l4 assigned to the fifth ruiloading station, which is usually the one on the fifth floor, will be described. The trip 44 and its associated parts is normally in the inoperative position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. A load placed thereon however depresses the movable fingers 31 and through the mechanism previously described advances the trip 44 into the dotted line position in which it is held by the latch 52 so that it will engage the cam 13 at the station to which it is assigned but will pass freely by the cams at the other stations. As the loaded car approaches its station (see Figs. 8 and 9) the trip 44 bears against the upper end of the cam 13 and depresses it from the full line position to the dotted line position. As the car continues its travel the trip 44 bearing against the face of the cam prevents its return to its normal position until the trip reaches the lower offset end and releases it whereupon the spring 64 is free to restore it to its normal position. The cam, being depressed, swings, through the mechanism described above, the load removing arms into the well as shown in dotted lines so that they remove the load from the fingers as the car passes the station. The trip 44 holds the cam '13 depressed until the load is removed. The fingers thereafter are returned by the spring 64 to their normal position. The trip arm 17 is also positioned in the well by the depression of the cam 13 and as the trip 44 passes, engages the trip plate 55 raising the latch 52 and permitting the trip 44 and the fingers 31 to be returned by the spring 3% to their normal positions. The car is then ready to receive another load. The engagement of the arm H with the plate 55 usually takes place after the cam has been released and as the arm is being returned by the spring 64. These movements of the arm H and plate 55 in opposite directions insure the raising of the latch.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads are carried to unloading stations along the path of travel, each car being assigned to a single station only, trip mechanism on each car and discharging mechanism at each station, said trip mechanism being normally inoperative and being rendered operative by the loading of the car, and the discharging mechanism of any station being actuated only by the trip mechanism of a car assigned to that station, which trip mechanism has been rendered operative by placing a load thereon.

2. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, and connections between the trip and the fingers whereby the depression of the fingers renders the trip operative, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when operative, for removing the load from the car.

3. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, and connections between the trip and the fingers whereby the depression of the fingers renders the trip operative, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when operative, for removing the load from the car and means at such station acting upon the trip mechanism after the load is removed and permitting the return of the trip to its normal inoperative condition.

4. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, connections between the trip and the fingers whereby the depression of the fingers renders the trip operative and means for holding the trip in operative position, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when rendered operative, for removing the load from the car and means at such station acting upon the trip holding means to permit the return of the trip to its normal inoperative condition.

5. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, fixed load receiving fingers, and connections between the trip and the movable fingers whereby the depression of such fingers renders the trip operative, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when operative, for removing the load from the car.

6. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, and'connections between the trip and the fingers for moving the trip laterally of the car into operative position upon the depression of the fingers, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when in the operative position, for removing the load from the car.

'7. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, and connections between the trip and the fingers for moving the trip laterally of the car into operative position upon the depression of the fingers, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which the car is assigned, actuated by the car trip when in the operative position for removing the load from the car, and means at such station acting upon the trip mechanism after the load is removed and permitting the return of the trip to its normal inoperative position.

8. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path and wherein each car is assigned to a single unloading station only, the combination with trip mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, connections between the trip and the fingers for moving the trip laterally of the car into operative position upon the depression of the fingers, yieldable means resisting such movement of the trip and a latch holding the trip in the operative position, of load discharging mechanism at the station to which a car is assigned, actuated by the car trip, when moved into the operative position, for removing the load from the car, and means at said station releasing the latch on the car, after the load has been removed, and thus permitting the yieldable means to return the trip to its normal inoperative position.

9. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car and connections between the trip and the fingers whereby the depression of the fingers renders the trip operative, of load discharging mechanism at the unloading stations, the mechanism at the station to which the load on a car is consigned being actuated by the trip on such car for removing the load.

10. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car, connections between the trip and the fingers whereby the depression of the fingers renders the trip operative, and means for holding the trip in operative position, of load discharging mechanism at the unloading station, the mechanism at the station to which the load on a car is consigned being actuated by the trip on such car for removing the load, and means at such station acting upon the trip holding means to permit the return of the trip to its normal inoperative condition.

11. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car and connections between the trip and the fingers for moving the trip laterally of the car into operative position upon the depression of the fingers, of load discharging mechanism at the unloading stations, the mechanism at the station to which the load on a car is consigned being actuated by the trip on such car for removing the load.

12. In a conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along such path, the combination with trip mechanism on each car, such mechanism including a normally inoperative trip, movable load receiving fingers depressed by the placing of a load in the car connections between the trip and the fingers for moving the trip laterally of the car into operative position upon the depression of the fingers, yieldable means resisting such movement of the trip and a latch holding the trip in the operative position, of load discharging mechanism at the unloading stations, the mechanism at the station to which the load on a car is consigned being actuated by the trip of such car to remove the load from the car, and means at the station releasing the latch after the load has been removed and thus permitting the yieldable means to return the trip to its normal inoperative position.

13. In a vertical conveyor including a plurality of cars by which loads, placed on the cars at loading stations along the path of travel thereof, are carried to unloading stations along the downward path of travel, the combination with trip mechanism upon each car rendered operative when the car is loaded, of discharge mechanism at each unloading station, said discharge mechanism including a normally raised station cam engaged and depressed by the operative trip mechanism of a car carrying a load consigned to that station, a rock shaft, connections between said cam and said rock shaft, by which said shaft is rocked when the cam is depressed, and arms on said shaft swung upon the movement thereof into the path of travel of the car, by which the cam was depressed, to remove the load from the car, and a trip arm swung by the depression of said cam into operative position which arm engages and renders inoperative the trip mechanism of the car upon the removal of the load.

14. A conveyer including a plurality of cars by which loads are carried to unloading stations along the path of travel, each car being assigned to a single station only, discharging mechanism at each station, and normally inoperative actuating mechanism for said discharging mechanism, said actuating mechanism being rendered operative by the loading of the car assigned to a station to cause the operation of the discharging mechanism at that station upon the arrival thereat of the loaded car.

CHESTER S. JENNINGS. 

